This paper examines the effect of decreasing the distance to the minimum legal retirement age on the hiring of senior workers. Using variation brought about by a comprehensive old-age public pension reform in Norway in 2011, I identify a positive effect on the hiring of senior workers. The results suggest that the increase was mainly caused by a positive shift in the demand for "risky" senior workers (workers with prior sick-leave and blue-collar workers). This lends support to the notion that risk-averse firms are more willing to hire senior workers when the minimum legal retirement age is decreased. (C) 2018 The Author. Published by Elsevier B.V.